[Stelle and March arrived at the Silvermane Guards' camp and found Dunn. After explaining the whole situation, Dunn's attitude was completely opposite to the previous two.]
[He was a soldier and understood clearly that there could be no compromise with the Company—only the path of battle. The Company employees were already so arrogant in Belobog; who could guarantee they wouldn't break the contract?]
[Faced with coercion, the only way was constant fighting and resistance. Once you yielded, you'd be placed on the table and obediently eaten.]
[Understanding Dunn's view, Stelle hurried without stopping to the Underworld. As the leader of Earthfire, Natasha—like Dunn—voted against it. The reason was simple: she recalled a sentence she had read during her school days: "Those who are willing to abandon freedom in search of security will ultimately lose both."]
["Everything the Underworld has gone through has given me a profound understanding of that sentence. For me… I would rather carry a huge rock and trek across the snowfields than be locked in a beautiful cage living a false life."]
[After learning Natasha's thoughts, Stelle found Oleg. He was also part of Earthfire like Natasha, but his answer was in favor.]
["If the Company is powerful enough to restore the world to how it was a thousand years ago overnight—in my eyes, there's really nothing to hesitate about."]
["Instead, think about the other side. If we refuse, what happens next? The reconstruction plan already has no end in sight, and now there's suddenly this massive debt to repay. Can we really hold on relying only on ourselves?"]
[The only thing he was truly worried about was Bronya herself. Could she withstand the criticism from the people? Was she prepared to bear a reputation that might be cursed for a thousand years?]
——
Marvel Universe.
"Criticism?"
Tony let out a soft laugh. He stood up to pour himself a glass of whiskey; the amber liquid swirled in the cup.
"Maybe there would be criticism at first? But once they taste high-end food from another world and realize they no longer have to worry about making a living, all that criticism will vanish into thin air."
"If I were Bronya's advisor, this contract would be gorgeous—far more lenient than the ones I signed selling missiles in the Middle East back in the day. It cancels current debts, solves the people's food and clothing issues, and revives planetary construction. Those builders worrying about infrastructure would probably love this contract to death."
Strange's brows knitted into a knot. "Not necessarily. This kind of contract is like making a deal with Dormammu—the beginning is sweet promises, the end is eternal enslavement."
"You're comparing the Company to Dormammu? If those Company executives who worship [Preservation] and Qlipoth heard that, they'd probably faint from crying."
Tony set down his glass, fingers tapping the metal armrest of the chair. "You know, when I shut down Stark Industries' weapons division, everyone said I was crazy. But a kid in some Middle Eastern village survived because one less missile was made."
He paused. "Belobog's problem was never 'should we sign with the Company'—it's whether the price of signing is worth it… If it's worth it, sign. If not, then negotiate more benefits from Topaz."
"Freedom shouldn't be weighed on a scale, Tony." Strange shook his head. "Every soul has the right to decide its own fate."
"Hey, Strange… don't give me that upper-class or Wall Street speech. You can use that to fool politicians, but I'm tired of hearing it. Before saying things like that, you need to understand the living conditions and environment of Belobog's residents. After all, people starving don't have time for philosophy."
"Belobog's Eternal Freeze is receding, but full recovery will still take centuries. If there's a massive debt pressing down on top of that, talking about 'free choice' at a time like this is like telling a drowning person 'you have the right to refuse a life preserver.'"
Tony suddenly raised his voice. "Sometimes reality has no perfect options—only the less terrible ones!"
——
[Stelle also asked Clara for her opinion. Clara's stance wasn't firm; she simply hoped the future path could be decided by herself.]
[After all, signing the contract would also mean buying out the dreams of children like Hook and the Moles Party—the direction of their lives would be set in stone.]
[The votes were now three to three—a tie. This put March 7th in a difficult position… after all, it seemed like everyone had very reasonable points.]
[Finally they found Seele. Just seeing the grave expressions on the two as they approached, Seele already sensed something was wrong, but she had mentally prepared herself.]
[After being fully informed of the sequence of events, Seele was silent for a long time before finally making her choice—abstaining.]
["Eh?!" March 7th's eyes widened in surprise.]
["I've thought it through clearly—the responsibility to make the choice belongs to Bronya, not me." Seele's tone was filled with trust. "Whether to agree or refuse, no matter which way she leans right now… she definitely sees farther than I do and considers things far more comprehensively and completely than I ever could."]
[She didn't want her own opinion to tip the balance of the tie and influence Bronya's judgment. She wouldn't do such a thing. No matter which path Bronya chose, she would follow… but the one thing she absolutely could not do was make the decision in her place.]
[March 7th suddenly understood. Indeed, the current tie showed that the people had not formed a unified stance—this was exactly the moment a leader needed to step forward.]
——
Teyvat.
Inside the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.
"Isn't this just circling right back to Bronya?" Chasca spread her hands with a helpless expression. "In the end, it's still up to this young girl to make the decision."
"I really understand her. This kind of choice really isn't easy to make. If you put me in her position, I probably couldn't do any better."
Mavuika took a sip of the beer in her cup. "You can tell Bronya is still a little scared… after all, she's young. This is the first time she's making a decision that concerns the fate of all Belobog's people."
"Then what would you choose?"
"Me?" Mavuika was taken aback for a moment. "I'm Natlan's leader, not Belobog's. Belobog's matters should be left for that young girl to worry about herself. I can't put myself in her shoes, so I can't give a reasonable judgment either."
"But if one day the Interastral Peace Corporation comes to Natlan… if I, Mavuika, dared to agree to a contract that's no different from a contract of indentured servitude, the chiefs of the major tribes probably wouldn't accept it either."
"Natlan has already fought the Abyss for over a thousand years. Now that the Abyss threat is gone, we probably wouldn't mind switching the enemy target to the Company and continuing the struggle for another thousand years."
——
[The two returned to the Administrative District. The current Great Guardian's office was as noisy as a marketplace—those in favor and those opposed each held their ground, arguing fiercely. As the two sides grew louder and louder, Bronya became increasingly agitated and suddenly slammed her hand on the desk.]
["Enough! Everyone stop!" Having just gone through an intense internal struggle, Bronya took a deep breath and moved her trembling finger toward the "agree" option. "…I know what I have to do."]
[But just as she was about to press it, a familiar and bright voice suddenly rang out from the hall.]
["—Please wait!"]
[In the distance, Himeko was walking calmly toward Bronya. She slightly raised her head, gazing firmly at the young girl on the platform.]
["I have something to convey to the Great Guardian."]